Joyce Sarah Bruce

She was born in St. Johnsbury, VT on October 30, 1931, the daughter of Albert Goslant and Marion (Hall) Goslant. Joyce was raised and educated in Framingham, MA and graduated from Framingham High School, Class of 1949 and Framingham Union Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1952. Joyce was a 35-year resident of Sandwich, MA and a long-time parishioner and Lay Eucharist Minister at Corpus Christi Church in Sandwich, MA.

Joyce lived a wonderful life centered around her enduring Faith, her steadfast love of Family and her decades-long Nursing career. She was a kind and compassionate mother, friend and caregiver who always treated others with dignity and respect. Joyce was fully committed to her children and provided them with a lifetime of love and support. As a single mother of six kids, Joyce always placed the needs of her children above herself. She lovingly touched the lives of countless people in both her personal and professional life. Whether it was her beloved family or one of her many friends, neighbors or nursing patients, Joyce was always there for others. She had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed hearing other’s stories. Joyce had a lovely singing voice and was an accomplished piano player. Joyce always relished time spent with her family. She loved the great outdoors and especially camping, hiking, travel and the ocean. She instilled in her six children that same love of the outdoors through countless hikes and camping expeditions. Her loving presence will be forever missed.

In 1952, upon graduating from Framingham Union Hospital School of Nursing, she began her career at Framingham Union Hospital, followed by a year as a pediatric nurse at Beth Israel Hospital. After taking time to have and to raise her family, Joyce returned to nursing at Framingham Union Hospital for ten years, in the operating room. A former resident of Wayland, MA, she moved to Georgia in the early 1980's & worked at Dekalb General Hospital for several years, returning to settle on Cape Cod, in 1982. Joyce served at Cape Cod Hospital for over 23 years in the orthopedic surgery unit, retiring in 2005 with 37-plus years in nursing. At the age of 74, after a brief retirement, Joyce served as a hospice nurse with Cape Heritage Rehabilitation. Joyce also journeyed to Honduras in 2011 as a healthcare volunteer with Fall River Missions.

She leaves behind her six children; Jeff Lawrence of Plymouth, MA; Jill and Bob MacCully of North Reading, MA; Joel and Nancy Lawrence of Cumberland, RI; Judy Lawrence of North Easton, MA; Jamie and Cathy Lawrence of Morrisville, VT; John, Jr. and Michele Lawrence of Dallas, TX and her 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Joyce is survived by her sister, Jo-an Ellis of Hudson, MA and late sister, Eunice Tanguay of Poughkeepsie, NY.

Visiting hours will be held at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 154 Route 6A, Sandwich, MA on Friday, July 27, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., with a Mass following at 11 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, 424 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich, MA. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery on Pine Street in Sandwich, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org). Mailing address: P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.

For directions and to share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to: www.nickersonbournefuneralhome.com